Head coach Kyle Shanahan has lost two great defensive coordinators during his time with the San Francisco 49ers. Robert Saleh left to become the head coach of the New York Jets in 2021. This year, DeMeco Ryans departed for the Houston Texans.
The Niners were fortunate, though, adding Steve Wilks to replace Ryans. Wilks has a lot of experience, serving as a defensive coordinator and even a head coach in the league. He likely would have had choices for his next NFL job, but something about the 49ers felt right.
Visiting with the team reassured Wilks of what he had seen from afar. The 49ers, an organization with a rich history, were doing things the right way. That starts with the three men in charge—Shanahan, general manager John Lynch, and CEO Jed York.
"You have to have that commitment," Wilks said a couple of weeks ago during the 49ers State of the Franchise event (the video was published today). "And you just saw from Jed the level of commitment that we have in trying to make sure that we have the best. And then you have a GM and a head coach that's aligned, that collaborates on everything ... And the players that we have, the culture is set. And I told my wife when I left this interview, I said, this is the place I want to be."
For Shanahan, the addition of Wilks was a no-brainer. The head coach had faced Wilks defenses multiple times over his career but had never spoken to him except for brief exchanges over handshakes on the football field.
"He was tough, especially when you play him a second time," Shanahan said, "because he would know what his weaknesses were, or you would know what you got him on or what he got you on, and there would be a different game. So that's where it started."
The 49ers had the top-ranked defense in the NFL last season, though. The last thing Shanahan wanted was someone coming in and making massive changes to a proven formula. It had to be the right match.
"I love our defense. I love what we've done here. I love our players. I love our scheme," Shanahan said.
Ensuring continuity from 2022 into 2023 was a top priority for the head coach.
"I need a guy that can run a four-down front that doesn't come in and change it to a whole 3-4 or anything," Shanahan explained. "Not because I have a problem with a 3-4. You can succeed any way. You just got to commit to it and match it with your people. But we're already committed. So let's get someone with a four down. Let's get someone that we truly respect just from going against them, and let's find out what kind of guy he is."
Given what they were asking, Shanahan certainly would have understood if Wilks had decided to pass on the 49ers. The coach has built enough of a resume to earn the right to want to do things his way. Luckily, Wilks came in and fell in love with the organization.
Shanahan already knew Wilks would be a great defensive coordinator for the 49ers. That wasn't what his interview was about. The head coach wanted Wilks to speak with the rest of the coaches during the interview process to ensure that it would fit well with what they had already established.
It did.
"It's to see how's this guy going to fit in, how's he going to work with our guys," Shanahan said of the process. "And that was my most exciting thing about it because he can run a defense and make it great. I wanted to see how he felt coming to a defense that was pretty good. And we were asking him to come do what we do. And once he learns that, find a way to make it better and put your own imprint on it.
"And I need to know about the character of the guy and how he feels about that and how he gets along with our staff. And when I had him meet with our defensive guys and stuff, it seemed like they all clicked."
From the moment he signed on and started meeting his players, Wilks knew he made the right choice. The culture built in Santa Clara since 2017 was unlike any other in the league. The 49ers defense had star playmakers like defensive end Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner. But it was those stars' relentless efforts to be the best that had him most excited.
"I came in phase one, and I'm just blown away ... at the way these guys go about their craft," Wilks admitted. "I mean, you would think it's the season the way these guys are working around here. Then we hit the field in phase two, and you just see the intensity increase even more. Now we're in the OTAs.
"So again, from afar, you see the great things happening here, but then, now being here in person, it's like, 'Okay, I get it.' It's a different standard here. I mean, every NFL team doesn't have this, and I'm very fortunate to be a part of it."
Players are just as impressed with Wilks as he is with them. They know they can maintain a top-ranked unit under their new defensive coordinator.
"I'll say this about Coach Wilks: he's come in and has done an amazing job," Warner said. "... I've had the privilege of playing under such great defensive coordinators already. And I think the common denominator amongst all of them so far is that they're just pure leaders of men, in their own ways, too. They all have different personalities and the way they go about it.
"But Coach Wilks, the fact that he's been able to control it, or just grab the attention of his room, as in us, the defense, in such a short amount of time, it speaks volumes. And I'm so excited to keep working, keep developing, keep going into the season, because I know we have a lot of work to do, and obviously, we have a lot of talent."